fight--me an' the gentleman got private bizness." And, laying his hand
on Berryn's shoulder, he said, "What are yer doin' here, when yer know a
lady like that?"

"Suffering hell for abusing heaven,'" replied Berryn, passionately.

"Then why don't yer go back?" inquired Buffle.

"Because I've got no money; all luck has failed me ever since I left
home--shipwreck, hunger, poverty--"

"Come back a minute," interrupted Buffle. "I forgot to come down with
the dust for the drinks. Now I tell yer what--I want yer to go back to
my camp--I've got plenty uv gold, an' it's no good to me, only fur
gamblin' an' drinkin'; yer welcome to enough uv it to git yerself home,
an' git on yer feet when yer get thar."

Berryn looked doubtingly at him as they entered the saloon.

"P'r'aps somebody here ken tell this gentleman my name?" said Buffle.

"Buffle!" said several voices in chorus.

"Bully! Now, p'r'aps you same fellers ken tell him ef I'm a man uv my
word?"

"You bet," responded the same chorus.

"An' now, p'r'aps some uv yer'll sell me a good hoss, pervidin' yer
don't want him stole mighty sudden?"